# seaside woolly sunflower (*Eriophyllum staechadifolium*) The seaside woolly sunflower is a bright yellow flower that grows near the ocean. Its soft, fuzzy leaves help it stay cool in the sun and protect it from salty winds. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![seaside woolly sunflower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/17-Mile_Drive_Coast.JPG&width=800) Photo: Gartenflo, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:17-Mile_Drive_Coast.JPG) ## Appearance The seaside woolly sunflower is a low, spreading shrub with distinct fuzzy, silvery-green leaves. Its bright yellow, daisy-like flower heads, clustered at the tips of its branches, provide a vibrant contrast to its pale foliage, making it visually unique along the coast. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Asteraceae - **Genus:** Eriophyllum ## Interesting facts - Even in strong winds, its compact shape keeps it low to the ground, safe and snug. - Its scientific name 'Eriophyllum' literally means 'woolly leaf' in ancient Greek! - Native peoples once used its leaves for traditional remedies to help with various ailments. - This plant is a coastal hero, helping to prevent precious beach sand from blowing away. ## Special abilities - **Woolly Winter Coat:** The seaside woolly sunflower has soft, fuzzy leaves that protect it from strong winds and salty ocean spray. - **Dune Anchor:** Its strong, deep roots spread wide, holding loose sand in place and helping to stabilize fragile coastal dunes. - **Salt Shield:** This plant can handle salty air and soil, thriving in harsh seaside conditions where many plants cannot survive. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-100 cm - **Spread:** 50-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring-summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Yellow-faced bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — gathers pollen for its young - **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — sips nectar from its flowers ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers, so they can keep growing for everyone to enjoy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify seaside woolly sunflower? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is seaside woolly sunflower? 30-100 cm ### How wide does seaside woolly sunflower spread? 50-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on seaside woolly sunflower? 2-4 cm ### When does seaside woolly sunflower bloom? Spring-summer ### Is seaside woolly sunflower edible? No ### Is seaside woolly sunflower toxic? None ### What is seaside woolly sunflower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Forts Baker, Barry, and Cronkhite](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forts-baker-barry-and-cronkhite) — California, US · Historic District - [Bodega Bay](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bodega-bay) — US · Natural Landmark - [Conservatory of Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conservatory-of-flowers) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Palace of Fine Arts](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palace-of-fine-arts) — California, US · Historic District - [Aquarium of the Bay](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aquarium-of-the-bay-california) — California, US · Zoo - [Aquarium of the Bay](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aquarium-of-the-bay) — California, US · Aquarium [View all places to see seaside woolly sunflower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/seaside-woolly-sunflower) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Seaside Woolly Sunflower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/seaside-woolly-sunflower)